In future, only new cars that do not emit greenhouse gases while driving will be allowed to be sold in the European Union. The regulation is due to come into force in 2035 and would mean the end of petrol and diesel vehicles as new cars. Negotiators from the EU countries and the European Parliament agreed on this on Thursday evening, as announced by the Czech Council presidency. It should be possible to review the decision again in 2026.
The agreement represents a “historical decision by the EU for the climate”, said French MEP Pascal Canfin, head of the European Parliament’s environment committee. It states that new cars with petrol and diesel engines will no longer be allowed to be registered in the EU from 2035. This finally confirms the goal of “100 percent zero-emission vehicles” by 2035, Canfin said.
E-fuels as a climate-friendly compromise?
Intermediate steps are planned for the years 2025 and 2030, the “Spiegel” reports. In addition, they want to work towards a compromise, in which the use of so-called e-fuels is also an option. These synthetic fuels are made from water and carbon dioxide using electricity. Incineration produces less environmentally harmful exhaust gases, their production is currently still very complex and their energy balance is significantly worse.
When the fuel is used in an engine, it runs more or less climate-friendly because the emitted CO2 comes from the atmosphere. Critics, however, note, among other things, that synthetic fuels in other sectors, such as shipping or aviation, are much more urgently needed than in road traffic.
“Prohibition is heading in the wrong direction”
ÖVP member Barbara Thaler criticized the decision. “Unfortunately, the combustion engine ban is headed in the wrong direction from 2035,” she wrote in a broadcast. “Transport must make its contribution to climate protection. To achieve this, ambitious goals must go hand in hand with feasibility. Battery-powered cars will find their place in the market. But relying solely on electromobility is not enough. In this way, we are not creating green jobs in Europe, but we are only shifting our dependence on raw materials to China, if there are already enough raw materials for the electrification of transport in Europe,” she warned. Instead, Europe should “focus on technology neutrality and, in parallel with expanding electrification, also invest in alternative fuels and focus on the sustainable further development of the combustion engine,” said the ÖVP MP.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
